Face Weighting for Personalized Image Effects

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing facial detection and recognition systems in digital images lack the ability to visually distinguish detected faces based on social media connections and other metrics, leading to inconsistent and unpersonalized image effects for different viewers.

Innovation Solution

A method that calculates weights for detected faces by analyzing characteristics such as prominence, focus, social media relationships, and communication frequency, and applies image effects like color balance, brightness, and focus adjustments based on these weights to visually differentiate faces within a digital image.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If facial detection and recognition are applied to digital images, then faces can be identified and labeled, but the system cannot visually distinguish faces based on social media connections and viewer relationships

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepersonalization of image effectsVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the image processing by separating face detection, weight calculation, and image effect application into distinct modules. Each detected face is independently evaluated and assigned a weight based on social media connections, allowing personalized effects to be applied to specific faces without reprocessing the entire image.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different image effects are applied to different faces based on their individual weights and the viewer's social media connections. Each face receives a customized visual treatment (e.g., blur, brightness adjustment, color filter) according to its importance to the viewer, creating locally optimized quality rather than uniform processing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple image effects are applied to different faces based on social media connections, then personalized visualization is achieved, but processing time and computational resources increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepersonalized image effectsVSAvoidimage processing time
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-calculates and stores social media connection data and face weights in advance. When an image is displayed, the pre-computed weights are retrieved and applied directly without real-time recalculation, significantly reducing processing time while maintaining personalized effects.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system adjusts image parameters (brightness, contrast, blur radius) based on pre-determined weight values. By changing these visual parameters rather than performing complex transformations, the system achieves personalized effects with minimal computational overhead and fast processing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Measurement precision

If face weights are calculated based on social media relationships and image characteristics, then visual distinction between important and less important faces is achieved, but the system requires access to multiple data sources increasing complexity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveface importance rankingVSAvoiddata integration complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system introduces a weight calculation module as an intermediary that aggregates data from multiple sources (social media connections, image prominence, focus) and transforms it into a single face importance weight. This mediator simplifies the integration complexity by providing a unified interface between diverse data sources and the image effect application.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The weight calculation system serves multiple functions: it evaluates social media connections, assesses image characteristics (prominence, focus, smile detection), and generates a comprehensive importance ranking. This multi-functional approach consolidates what would otherwise require separate systems into a single unified module.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP2902941B1System and method for visually distinguishing faces in a digital image
Publication Date: 2018.08.29 SONY GROUP CORP
  • EP2902941B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP2902941B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2902941B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A face (20, 40) is detected and identified in a digital image. A weight is calculated and assigned to the detected face based on characteristics of the face and social media connections between the person identified from the face and a target viewer of the digital image. One or more image effects are applied to the digital image to visually distinguish the detected face from other parts of the digital image and/or in relation to other faces detected in the image.